The Emoji Code

Drawing from disciplines as diverse as linguistics, cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience, The Emoji Code explores how emojis are expanding communication and not ending it. For all the handwringing about the imminent death of written language, emoji—those happy faces and hearts—is not taking us backward to the dark ages of illiteracy. Every day 41.5 billion texts are sent by one quarter of the world, using 6 million emoji. Evans argues that these symbols enrich our ability to communicate and allow us to express our emotions and induce empathy—ultimately making us all better communicators. The Emoji Code charts the evolutionary origins of language, the social and cultural factors that govern its use, change, and development; as well as what it reveals about the human mind. In most communication, nonverbal cues are our emotional expression, signal our personality, and are our attitude toward our addressee. They provide the essential means of nuance and are essential to getting our ideas across. But in digital communication, these cues are missing, which can lead to miscommunication. The explosion of emoji, in less than four years, has arisen precisely because it fulfills exactly these functions which are essential for communication but are otherwise absent in texts and emails. Evans persuasively argues that emoji add tone and an emotional voice and nuance, making us more effective communicators in the digital age.

Since 2011, the use of emoji - deriving from the Japanese, meaning picture character - has become a global phenomenon. We send over 6 billion emoji every day and regularly send emoji-only messages, and, when Oxford Dictionaries named the 'Face with Tears of Joy' emoji as their 'Word of the Year 2015', it received an enormous amount of criticism. Whenever emoji are covered in the popular media the same burning questions come up: Can an emoji really be a word? How language-like is it? Will emoji make us dumber? Or more lazy? Will they make us less adept at communicating with our nearest and dearest? And does this signal the death knell for language as we know it? Drawing on findings from disciplines as diverse as linguistics, cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, archaeology and anthropology, this groundbreaking book explores human capacity to communicate, and addresses these questions in the process. The Emoji Code sheds light on emoji's vital role in the expression of emotion in digital communication and more, pointing the way for the future of international communication in a provocative and entertaining way.

Shortlisted for the BAAL Book Prize 2017 Emoji have gone from being virtually unknown to being a central topic in internet communication. What is behind the rise and rise of these winky faces, clinking glasses and smiling poos? Given the sheer variety of verbal communication on the internet and English's still-controversial role as lingua mundi for the web, these icons have emerged as a compensatory universal language. The Semiotics of Emoji looks at what is officially the world's fastest-growing form of communication. Emoji, the colourful symbols and glyphs that represent everything from frowning disapproval to red-faced shame, are fast becoming embedded into digital communication. Controlled by a centralized body and regulated across the web, emoji seems to be a language: but is it? The rapid adoption of emoji in such a short span of time makes it a rich study in exploring the functions of language. Professor Marcel Danesi, an internationally-known expert in semiotics, branding and communication, answers the pertinent questions. Are emoji making us dumber? Can they ultimately replace language? Will people grow up emoji literate as well as digitally native? Can there be such a thing as a Universal Visual Language? Read this book for the answers.

Text the pizza emoji with a question mark, and you've got dinner sorted out. Don't know what to use when you're running late, or when you want to organize a fun night out? How to Speak Emoji will help you win at texting. Featuring everyday greetings, pickup lines, workplace expressions, and tried-and-true insults, this book is perfect for the novice user or those looking to test their knowledge. With a collection of useful and hilarious phrases and a handy dictionary to demonstrate what the emojis really mean, you’ll never feel out of your depth again - or make the embarrassing mistake of putting an eggplant symbol next to a peach. Includes sections such as everyday greetings, in the workplace, in relationships and asking for help and directions, as well as how to translate song titles and film quotes, this is your complete guide to the bright new world of the emoji.

"Do you want to unlock the secrets inside your phone? Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favorite Emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phones user. Find out more about your favorite Emojis, and some new characters, in this awesome guidebook that's packed with puzzles, jokes, and images from the film!"--Amazon.com.

Kids will love cracking these secret message emoji codes! This book is fun for kids who love emojis and for kids who like to solve puzzles and brain games. You don't need a decoder ring to decode these puzzles. This fun activity book can keep kids engaged and exercising their minds while trying to solve 100 different codes based on books, movies, characters, and phrases.

"Based on the screenplay by Tony Leondis & Eric Siegel and Mike White."

Explores the evolution of emoji, how people use them, and what they tell us about the technology-enhanced state of modern society.